Brexit ‘bad cop’ gets angry over citizens’ rights

The European Parliament has previously been portrayed as the “bad cop” in Brexit negotiations — this weekend was the moment it began roughing up the U.K. because it is not getting the answers it wants.

On Sunday, Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian liberal MEP and Parliament’s point man on Brexit, wrote in an open letter published by the Guardian that the institution would reject any agreement that treats EU citizens, regardless of their nationality, “less favorably than they are at present.”

The letter, which is signed by a cross-party group of leading MEPs, said the Parliament would never endorse the “retroactive removal” of their rights.

Verhofstadt and his colleagues were referring to Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposals — presented last month — for a special “settled status” for EU citizens in the U.K. post Brexit.

But Verhofstadt said the offer was “a damp squib,” and that if implemented, would mean a loss of rights. “Europeans will not only lose their right to vote in local elections, but family members will be subject to minimum income requirements, and it is unclear what the status of ‘post-Brexit’ babies would be,” he said. “This carries a real risk of creating second-class citizenship.”

Verhofstadt also added that the European Court of Justice should play its “full role” to enforce the rights of EU citizens, something that the U.K. government has set as a red line.

The Parliament sees its Brexit role, above all, as defender and guarantor of the rights of EU citizens. With May’s post-election political weakness, it feels emboldened and perhaps keen to demonstrate its own strength and relevance — contrary to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s “ridiculous” jibe last week.

There may be an element of chest-beating on an issue where the U.K. and EU27 sides are not that far apart. But London must beware. These bad cops do have a veto over the Brexit outcome — in the form of a vote on the final deal.

This insight is from POLITICO‘s Brexit Files newsletter, a daily afternoon digest of the best coverage and analysis of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. Read today’s edition or subscribe here.

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MLB

Both Jean Klunker and Guy Verhof

Should take Why Brexit happened as a Hint to realize that those 2 in particular are the main reason UK left.
And that us citizens inside the EU do not trust or even want them in there anymore.
They need to resign and go on their way with their life.
The way they behave and says is unacceptable to the EU citizens.
There should be a vote of confidence because they have Lost all credibility to even comment or be in the talks about the future of the EU.
EU will have a future but these 2 Delusional persons are not in the Future of the EU.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 4:38 PM CEST

Chris

@MLB

agreed !

Posted on 7/10/17 | 5:01 PM CEST

Gav

Agreed

Posted on 7/10/17 | 5:18 PM CEST

Gav

@mbl Agreed

Posted on 7/10/17 | 5:19 PM CEST

Anthony Chambers

How about the EU makes sure that all current EU citizens have their rights within the future EU have their rights respected and the UK ensures that all people lawfully in the UK have their rights protected? Rather than the EU pick and mix process.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 5:41 PM CEST

lan

Of course the EP can veto the final agreement between the UK & EU.

So how does that work in the run up to EP elections?
– we vetoed the deal because we didn’t like some of the UK proposals on the rights of EU citizens in the UK
– because we vetoed it the UK leaves without a deal
– all treaties cease to apply on Brexit
– you therefore have no rights other than those granted by the UK
– we have no further input on or influence, its an entirely domestic matter for the UK,

So sorree…..

Posted on 7/10/17 | 6:55 PM CEST

Elena Adaal

I do not get the comments. Mr Verhofstad is an elected MEP, as are his co-signaturees. Mr Juncker is not even the subject of the article. The EP has said earlier they will be vigilant on EU citizens rights. They ask a bit more than the will get, but who doesn’t.

Demanding their resignation does not do justice to their mandate.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 6:55 PM CEST

AlteredWalter

Chris

@Elena, MLB

Although I agreed with MLB’s sentiments regarding the damage that these two people have done, you’re right that asking them to resign is a bit over the top. Perhaps the best is strategy is that they are asked to think about the consequences a bit more before opening their mouths. Verhofstadt is by far the more malicious of the two. I would hope he is now regretting his words implying the EU supported an independent Scotland now that Catalunya is heading towards independence from Spain. Fortunately the man is nowhere near as important as he sees himself. Although he is the European Parliament’s negotiator in he Brexit talks, the European parliament is not involved in the negotiations apart from the rubber stamping exercise at the end. And when that happens he has no special powers; he is just another MEP.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 7:21 PM CEST

YellowSubmarine

Presumably the EU will also insist on ECJ having a say on ex EU folks living in Japan, after the deal, and Canada. Although the Americans can count themselves lucky now they have pulled out of TTIP.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 8:44 PM CEST

wow

I feel sorry for the EU citizen’s who listen to Guy Verhofstadt. Willing to risk civil war for what? According to the World Bank on the official World Economic Forum website, the 2017 gdp figures for continents are currently and I quote from their site:

‘The Asian bloc clearly has a larger share than anywhere else, representing just over a third (33.84%) of global GDP. That’s compared to North America, which represents just over a quarter, at 27.95%.

Europe comes third with just over one-fifth of global GDP (21.37%).’

BEAR in mind Europe is third in the world’s gdp with ALL europe ie Russia UK etc.. EU figure is lower (obviously) at 14% (11% when UK leaves) and EZ is only 10% (7% when UK leaves).

Why am I giving you these highly reputable figures. Well, because even if you risk starting a war and everything else, instability etc and finally get a forced on the citizen’s without ever asking them ‘superstate’ the EU will STILL not ever be a superpower. Not now. Not ever.

It is mathematically impossible.

This is without even mentioning the decline of EU percent compared to rise in Asia, which according to the world bank, will leave EU more like only 6% of global GDP pie by 2030. Lower than Japan’s gdp % in 2017.

All that possible hassle with wars and such for the power of Japan?

You are being led astray. The numbers can never add up for you.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 10:18 PM CEST

wow

The above is the reason UK will be better off with No ECJ/EU/nothing at all and joining NAFTA and TPP as the Canadian and Australian prime minister advised us to in a TELEGRAPH aricle (google it) as well as bi-lateral trade deals we will be ‘allowed’ to do as no other trading blocks restrict their members.

We need to be free from the ECJ to negotiate our own interests, and ours alone, in the upcoming trade negotiations we have already got dates to start informal talks for.

Posted on 7/10/17 | 10:28 PM CEST

Dememtrius

Free movement ends when the treaties end. It is then wholly up to the UK what happens next to EU citizens still in the UK. They immigrants go to any EU country if they are not happy with the new arrangements and so enjoy their full rights again.

Posted on 7/11/17 | 10:24 AM CEST

salu

@Dememtrius

And that would be good for the UK economy and UK citizens in the EU you reckon. Forgot about reciprocity?